Probe recommended into redesignation of assistant professors, equipment purchase

A preliminary inquiry by the government into allegations of redesignation of assistant professors and purchase of equipment by the Directorate of Technical Education has recommended further inquiry into both the issues. 

The inquiry was conducted in January this year by G V Krishna Rau, in his capacity as additional chief secretary. He has now retired from service.

Two JD(S) MLCs— Marithibbegowda and Puttanna—had lodged a complaint with the chief minister in last December not only regarding the VTU recruitments but also about certain decisions taken by the DTE.

They had said that rules were violated while redesignating assistant professors as associate professors in the DTE by giving them revised pay scales from the date of their original appointments. 

Another complaint was regarding the purchase of equipment by the DTE during 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 for solar home light, street lights, ARM Lab equipment and electrical air purifiers, speed controller of motors and e-biometrics without calling for tenders. 

Rau, in his letter to E V Ramana Reddy, Principal Secretary, DP&AR, dated July 31, 2014, had pointed out that the MLCs had also alleged role of the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, DTE and other senior officials.

Despite complaints pending with the Higher Education Secretary for several months, no action was taken to rectify the mistakes and take action against the persons concerned, the MLCs had alleged.

The MLCs had also said that the Principal Secretary had participated in the executive council meeting of VTU and approved such actions. They had demanded a Lokayukta probe. 

After seeking comments and materials available on these issues from the Higher Education Department Principal Secretary Rajneesh Goel, Rau has recommended an inquiry into all the three issues raised by the MLCs.

When it comes to recruitment of 168 teachers by VTU in violation of the norms, Goel has said VTU did not heed the department’s words even when it was asked to stop the recruitment process.

As per his reply to the notice, the VTU on August 17, 2011 sought government approval “to create 168 teaching posts” as per the VTU executive council resolution dated July 29, 2011. The government then granted its approval a year later on July 2, 2012. Subsequently, the VTU invited applications through newspaper advertisements on March 16, March 19 and March 20 to the posts of faculty.

However, On July 17, 2013, members of Legislative Council levelled a series of allegations against the recruitment process at the legislature session. The Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande assured the House that the recruitment process will be suspended for a week and the VTU was asked to stop the process on the same day. The DP&AR also issued a letter asking the VTU suspend its recruitment.

Goel said that on July 20, 2013, the higher education department intimated VTU for suspending the recruitment process till the government orders are issued prescribing reservation (H-K region) and fresh recruitment procedure. 
The department then issued the reservation quota to VTU on November 6, 2013 and on November 7 another letter to comply with the mandatory requirement prescribed by the DPAR.

VTU on its part dispatched two letters to the government seeking permission to continue the recruitment process on November 14, 2013 and on December 2, 2013.

But without waiting for fresh approval from the government, it decided to place the appointment of 40 teaching staff in its December 7, 2013 Executive Committee meeting. 

Goel in his statement has said that the VTU did not comply with the mandatory norms of creating in advance local cadres as per the reservation provided under Article 371 J and DP&AR orders dated November 6, 2013. He has also said the VTU violated its own statute which states: “All the vacancies to be filled in at various levels including their reservation status shall be widely advertised/ publicised nationally and on the University website, giving enough time for the candidates to send in their applications.”